Latest news with #CMPD
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
CMPD officer cleared in fatal Coyote Joe's shooting, SBI says actions were ‘justified'
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — CMPD Officer Joseph Calabro has been cleared by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation in the fatal 2024 Coyote Joe's shooting. On the night of Dec. 28, 2024, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers Joseph Calabro, Michael Miles, and Thomas Drennan were working outside the Coyote Joe's nightclub in an off-duty capacity. All three officers were in full uniform. Around 11 p.m., the officers were informed of a man in the parking lot who was intoxicated,had a gun in his van, and stated he wanted to kill himself. Shortly thereafter, club security notified the officers that the man had been located at his van in the parking lot holding a gun to his head. A member of club security was already talking to the man, trying to get him to put the gun down. Officer Drennan recalled hearing the man screaming that he was going to kill himself or make the police do it for him. Officer Calabro added that he heard 'a scream from the gut like the devil was being released from someone.' Officer Miles attempted to talk the man into putting the gun down for several minutes. According to the report, the man was 'clearly impaired and extremely erratic and emotional.' Officers Calabro and Drennan remained out of the man's line of sight while OfficerMiles attempted to de-escalate the situation. Several times during this interaction with Officer Miles, the man made reference to forcing the officers to shoot him. He made statements including: 'Either you're going to shoot me or I'm going to shoot myself. Do you understand that?' 'I know if I point this at you, you'll put me out of my misery,' and, 'If I point this at you, I know for a fact you will kill me.' After seven and a half minutes of Officer Miles attempting to de-escalate the situation, the man began yelling at Officer Miles while advancing toward him. The man emerged from between the vehicles and spotted Officers Calabro and Drennan, 'likely for the first time.' At this point, the man was approximately ten feet from Officer Drennan, whowas standing on the rear driver's side of the van with his taser drawn. Officer Calabro wasstanding in the open parking lot, without cover, approximately 30 feet from the man. Officer Calabro then drew his weapon and pointed it at the man. Addressing OfficerCalabro, the man, stated multiple times, 'I know you're ready.' Officer Calabro then commanded the man six times in succession to drop the firearm. The man then stated to Officer Calabro, 'I know you're ready, because the second that I point this at you, I know….' Officer Calabro then discharged his weapon three times, striking the man. Officer Calabro stated that he fired more than once because police are trained to stop thethreat, and the man was still standing after the first shot. A Canick 9×19 TP9 handgun with a three-round magazine extension containing 21rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the man and secured on the scene. An autopsy conducted on Dec. 30, 2024, determined he suffered three gunshot wounds to the chest and neck. After conducting interviews with the officers, reviewing body camera footage, and receiving the autopsy report, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation concluded the following: No available evidence in this case would enable the State to prove to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Officer Calabro did not act in defense of himself or others. The body-worn camera videos, the statements of the officers and civilian witnesses on scene, and the physical evidence on scene corroborate that Officers Calabro was reasonable in his belief that the decedent posed an imminent threat of great bodily harm or death to others when he fired his weapon, killing the decedent. North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Police investigating a death in west Charlotte
Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Homicide Unit are investigating a death along Golf Acres Drive, according to an CMPD alert on X. CMPD told Channel 9 at the scene that they found a body near a creek. This is a developing story. Check back with for updates. VIDEO: Shooting investigation leads to discovery of illegal gambling operation, CMPD says
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ardrey Kell High principal to retire weeks after being suspended with pay
Ardrey Kell High School principal Jamie Brooks is retiring after being suspended with pay earlier this month. PAST COVERAGE: Ardrey Kell High School principal suspended with pay 'It is with my deepest sadness that I write to you to share that I have made a decision that is best for me to retire effective June 1,' Brooks said in a statement to families. Channel 9 confirmed that Brooks was suspended with pay on May 2. Assistant principal Tomica Wright will continue to be the lead school administrator with assistance from performance area executive director Crystal Houser. In April, Channel 9 reported on a fight involving a Muslim female student and a Black male student. After investigating, CMPD and the FBI found no evidence to support any criminal charges. It is unknown why Brooks was suspended before she announced her retirement. VIDEO: 'I'm here to fight for her': Parent speaks out in support of Ardrey Kell principal
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Two officers shot at while inside their vehicle in southeast Charlotte: Report
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Police say two CMPD officers were shot at while inside a vehicle in southeast Charlotte. On May 25, around 3:12 a.m., two officers and another person were in the 200 block of Idlewild Road when unknown suspects shot at them inside their vehicle. Officials say the gunshots damaged their vehicle, but no one involved was injured. The patrol vehicle sustained $2,500 worth of damage. Prior to the shooting, the Cornelius Police Department reported the suspects' vehicle stolen. The 2021 Ford Bronco was later recovered. Police have not released any additional details in this case. No word on whether the suspects have been 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Charlotte leaders plan national search for CMPD Chief Jennings' successor
Now that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings has shared his plans to retire by 2026, city leaders will begin a nation-wide search for his successor, a city announcement said. Jennings, who joined the department in 1992 and was promoted to chief in 2020, went public with his decision Sunday — the same day he released details of the $305,000 closed-session settlement he made with the city earlier in May. The deal reportedly stopped a lawsuit over comments made by former City Council member Tariq Bokhari, who pushed Jennings to get new bulletproof vests for police officers, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. After Jennings announced his retirement plans, two of the city's top leaders thanked him for his commitment to the city. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles praised Jennings as a 'transformative leader for CMPD and a true champion for Charlotte,' her statement read. 'His dedication to public safety and his innovative approaches to policing have made our city safer and stronger,' Lyles said. 'We are immensely grateful for his 33 years of service and his commitment to leading the department through the end of the year.' Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones also thanked Jennings. He said Jennings' leadership has been 'instrumental in advancing public safety.' 'As we begin the search for our next chief, we are committed to finding a leader who will continue to build upon Chief Jennings' legacy and uphold our city's commitment to safety and justice for all,' said Jones in a statement. Jennings' separation agreement awards the chief the following: ▪ $14,016.70 in retroactive pay ▪ $45,698.56 retention bonus ▪ $45,284.70 for 40 days of vacation ▪ $175,000 in severance pay ▪ 25,000 'for costs incurred related to the Dispute.' Jennings annual salary was about $280,300. Last week, State Auditor Dave Boliek said his office planned to investigate the city's settlement with Jennings. At the time, city officials refused to share details of the agreement, saying details of the agreement were not public record. 'Even if the payment was worth one penny, it should be disclosed to the public in a timely and transparent matter,' wrote Boliek in a letter to Lyles. Details of the separation agreement were first reported by The Charlotte Optimist and The Assembly.
